Bears 'optimistic' about hosting fans at Soldier Field

Bears Chairman George McCaskey said the club has submitted a proposal to return fans to the stands at Soldier Field. According to McCaskey, the city of Chicago wants to see the city's COVID-19 cases diminish before fans can attend Bears games.

"We're very optimistic," McCaskey said Thursday. "We're talking to the city. We've presented a plan, we think it's a good plan."

No timetable has been provided for when fans might return to the stadium. The Bears open the season Sunday in Detroit before hosting their first home game on Sept. 20. McCaskey said the Bears will follow the guidelines set forth by the city.

McCaskey's mother, 97-year-old Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, does plan on attending as many Bears games as possible this season. She will travel to Detroit for the season opener Sunday. George McCaskey said his mother will take the season game by game.

George McCaskey himself has been cautious because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Thursday was only his second day at the Halas Hall team facility since March. He did not attend any practices during training camp and has yet to meet new quarterback Nick Foles.

"I was uncomfortable personally and I didn't want to add any complications to the mix here," George McCaskey said. "When we did have training camp, the advice we got was fewer (people) and farther (spacing)."

The NFL does not have one specific guideline for hosting fans in the stands. The league has left it up to each individual team and each team's city ordinances. Some teams are planning to allow a limited number of fans to attend games, while others are playing in front of empty stadiums.

The Bears announced last month that Soldier Field will not host fans for the immediate future. Should seats become available at some point this season, Bears season ticket holders would have first priority.